Slat feed



G. C. PAXTON May 31, 1938.

SLAT FEED Filed Dec. 28, 1936 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLAT FEED Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 117,709

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in box making machines and has particular utility in the general type o-f machine shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,884,333 issued February 9, 1932 to E. C. Northrup on a Box machine.

The machine disclosed in the aforesaid patent is adapted for nailing the two sides and bottom onto the box ends (and, if desired, onto a middle partition) to form a shipping box such as those commonly used for shipping oranges or other kinds of fresh fruits. When thus assembling these boxes said machine was provided with means for holding the ends and middle partition of the box properly positioned beneath the nailing mechanism While slat feeding arms removed slats from the lower end of a magazine containing these and delivered these slats into position Over the box ends and partition whereithe nailing mechanism nailed these slats to the box ends and partition. Each of the sides and bottom of the box is formed in said machine by such an operation, the partially formed box being automatically rotated 90 between successive operations.

The aforesaid machine was adapted to make boxes varying as to width and depth with the limitation, however, that where the width greatly exceeded the depth of the box some means had to be provided to prevent the slat carrying devices plunging through the bottom of the box at the time of feeding the last side onto the box ends. The reason for this was that when these slat carrying arms were made of sufficient length to carry the relatively wide bottom slats into assembling positions, these arms were so long that if projected an equal distance into the machine when carrying the relatively narrow slats for the nal side these arms would be poked right through the bottom just previously nailed into 4o place.

One means for overcoming this diiculty is disclosed in the aforesaid patent and it is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for this purpose which is relatively inexpensive, simple and satisfactory in operation.

In order to simplify the disclosure in this application I have shown the invention herein as applied to the machine illustrated in the aforesaid patent. The old parts of said machine included in the drawing in this case are identified by the same reference characters as employed for this purpose in said patent.

The manner of accomplishing the aforementioned object, as well as further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the nailing machine shown in the aforesaid U. S. Letters Patent and having incorporated there- 5 with a preferred embodiment of the invention, this View showing said machine about to nail the first side on a box.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to, a1- though more restricted in scope than Fig. 1, and 10 showing said machine about to nail the bottom o-n said box.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the machine during the operation of applying the final side to the box. 15

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the construction of one of the shook feeding arms.

In referring specifically to the drawing no at- 20 tempt will be made to completely describe the old features of the machine shown therein as they are already thus described in the U. S. Letters Patent above referred to. However, it may be noted for our present convenience that this ma- 25 chine has a frame 2 upon whichvis supported a central stack Ill of horizontally disposed slats adapted to form sides and bottoms of boxes, these slats being prearranged in wide and narrow widths in the sequence of their use. 30

Horizontally slidable on the frame 2 beneath the stack I0 is a slat feeding carriage II which is reciprocated at regular intervals over a fixed path by an arm I2 throughout the operation of the machine. It will be noted that the afore- 35 mentioned patent discloses an optional mechanism including a chain III, a cam II6, and a roller II5 for causing uniform reciprocations of a pitman I3 to be transmitted to a power arm I2 in such a manner that there will be a varia- 40 tion in the length of successive reciprocations oi' the arm I2. The use of this mechanism is optional, however, and it is not required for the manufacture of lemon boxes such as those shown being made in the operation views of the drawing 45 of said patent. Neither is the use of this mechanism required in a nailing machine employing the invention disclosed in the present application. In order to render this mechanism inoperative, it is merely necessary to disconnect the 50 chain I II when the cam I I6 is positioned so that the high portion thereof is disposed beneath the roller I I5 as shown in Fig. 3 of the patent drawing. When said optional mechanism is thus disconnected, the uniform reciprocations of the pit- 55 man |3 are transmitted to the power arm I2 so as to cause the latter to reciprocate uniform distances in the operation of the machine.

Just in advance of the forwardmost position of the carriage II is located a box assembly space. Just beneath this space is a nailing table I5 and above this space are located nailing chucks I6 suitably associated with nail drivers and mechanism for operating the latter. As the carriage II reciprocates, lugs 14 thereon feed box ends 6 from suitable magazines (not shown) into upright positions over and resting upon the nailing table I5 as-shown in Fig. 1. 'Ihese box ends 6 are only fed by the lugs 14 once for each three reciprocations of the carriage I I as is made clear in the description of said machine in said patent. Mounted on the frame 2 over the nailing table I5 are discs I1 which are provided with suitable mechanism (not shown) which causes these discs to grip the box ends 6 and rotate these ends 90 between successive nailing operations.

A feeding of slats from the stack I0 into position over the box ends 6 is accomplished by a. pair of shook feeding arms 86 which are mounted for pivotal rotation on their own axes on members 94 which are in turn horizontally pivoted at 95 on the carriage I| so that the members 94 and rotatable arms 86 can be lowered at the end of the forward stroke of the carriage II to return clear of the delivered slats.

The arms 86 are normally held up in horizontal position by pivotal latches (not shown) which are kicked by striking adjustable stop screws (not shown) on the xed frame of the machine as the members 94 arrive at their forwardmost positions. On the return stroke of the carriage II a pivoted lever 99 provided on each of the members 94 is shifted upwardly by engagement with a cam (not shown) so as to return that member 94 and the arm B6 mounted thereon upward to their horizontal positions in which they are automatically latched and retained throughout the forward movement ofV these with the carriage which follows.

As the levers 99 elevate the levers 94 to horizontal positions they also rotate the arms 86 one third of a revolution. Each of the arms 86 is composed of three ribs 86a, 86o and 86e on each of which are mounted hooks 81 for engaging slats and picking these from the lower end of the stack I0 while the carriage is travelling forwardly with the arms 86 held upwardly in horizontal position. After each one third revolution given to the arms 86 as above noted a different pair of ribs of these arms is disposed upwardly. The hooks 81 are variously positioned on the three ribs of the arms 86 in accordance with the desired number and space of slats.

On ribs 86a and 86h the hooks 81 are spaced apart relatively short distances so as to properly position narrow slats Illa. when forming the sides of the box. On rib 86e of each of the arms 86 the hooks 81 are spaced apart a, relatively long distance so as to properly position a pair of relatively wide slats |0b in forming the bottom of the box.

Slldably mounted on the opposite face of each rib 86e from the face thereof on which hooks 81 are mounted, is a telescopic slat support |30. This support is preferably formed of sheet metal, has a head I3I on the forward end thereof and is provided with slots |32 through which cap screws |33 extend, the latter being received in threaded holes in the rib 86o. As shown in Fig. 4 the portions of the cap screws |33 which lie in the slots |32 are surrounded by sleeves I 34. Connecting between the forwardmost of the cap screws |33 and a pin |35 mounted in the support |30 is a contractile coil spring |36 which yieldably maintains the support |30 in its forwardmost position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

' Operation To begin with, the machine disclosed in the drawing is supplied with a stack of slats I0 made up of groups of slats, each group of which comprises two slats |0b with two slats |0a on the top thereof and two slats I0a on the bottom thereof. The hoppers for the box ends 6 are furnished with a supply of the latter so that when the machine is started the first reciprocation of the carriage feeds a pair of the box ends 6 into the position in which these are shown in Fig. 1.

As previously pointed out the members 94 and arms 86 are lifted into horizontal position as the carriage approaches its rearwardmost position and are allowed to thus remain during the forward travel of the carriage. At the same time the feeding arms 86 are lifted to horizontal position they are rotated one third revolution. This rotation takes place in the direction of the arrow |40. At the start of the operation of the machine the ribs 862) of the shook feeding arms 86 are disposed upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. During the rst forward movement of the carriage therefore, the hooks 81 on this rib engage and strip from the bottom of the stack I0 the lowermost pair of slats |0a and feed these into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, the lugs 1.4 simultaneously feeding the box ends 6 into the machine.

As already noted, as the carriage II reaches its forwardmost position the mechanism which supports the members 94 and arms 86 in horizontalposition automatically collapses to permit the members 94 and arms 86 to swing downwardly into the inclined position in which they are shown in Fig. l and they remain in this position while the carriage is being withdrawn to its rearwardmost position where they are again returned to horizontal.

Immediately following the lowering and withdrawal of the arms 86 as indicated in Fig. l, the mechanism supporting the nail chucks I6 and drivers 60 sets these in motion to lower the nail chucks onto the slats |0a. just delivered by the arms 86 and nail these slats to the ends 6.

Immediately following each nailing operation the chucks I6 are lifted from the work and the latter is rotated by the discs I1 one quarter revolution after which the discs relax their hold on the box ends 6 and the table |5 is automatically elevated or lowered to support the work at such a height that the upper surface thereof to be engaged by the chucks I6 in the next proceeding nailing operation will always be in the same horizontal plane.

Due to the partial rotation of the slat feeding arms 86 the second forward movement of the latter nds the ribs 86h disposed in upward position as shown in Fig. 2, so that the hooks 81 of these ribs engage and strip from the stack |0 the lowermost pair of wide slats |0b in the stack. Owing to the width of the slats |01)l the front edge of the foremost slat extends a considerable distance beyond the front ends of the shook feeding arms 86 and rests upon the heads |3| of the supports |30. During the latter portion of the forward movement of the carriage Il the lugs I4 engage the rear edges of the work and shift this forwardly so that when the feeding arms 86 are lowered slats |01) supported thereon are left in the proper positions on the work for nailing thereto. Fig. 2 clearly shows that the support provided by the members 130 for the forward edge of the leading slat IUD is necessary in order that this slat may be properly fed into place for assembly with the box.

When the next forward mo-vement of the feeding arms 86 takes place, the latter have been rotated another third revolution bringing rib 86a into upward position and the work has been rotated another quarter revolution into the position in which this is shown in Fig. 3. Here it is seen that the bottom slats |017 which have just been nailed in place on the box lie directly in the path of the telescopic support |30 as these move forwardly with the arms 86 in order to deposit a pair of the narrow slats I0a on the box ends 6 in the process of forming the final side on the box. The resistance of the box bottom to the continuous forward movement of the supports |30 causes these supports to be telescoped upon the feeding arms 86 thus stretching the springs |36, this telescoping action being clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Upon the withdrawal of the arms 86 from within the completed box the contraction of the springs I 36 extend the supports |30 to their original extended positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and these supports remain thus extended until they are brought into engagement with the bottom of the next box to be assembled in the machine in the same manner as has just been described.

It will be seen from the foregoing disclosure that I have provided a very simple and economical expedient for solving the problem of feeding bottom and side slats which differ considerably in width, into assembling positions in an automatic box making machine such as shown in the aforementioned U. S. Letters Patent, without breaking the bottom of the box when feeding in the slats for forming the final side to be assembled with the box.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic box making machine the combination of a reciprocating shook feeder adapted to pick a shook from beneath a pile and carry it to box assembling position; means on said feeder for engaging and stripping pieces of shook from beneath said pile; a telescopic support mounted on said feeder and. disposed beyond the forward end thereof when in extended position; and means for yieldably urging said support into extended position.

2. In an automatic box making machine the combination of a reciprocating' shook feeder adapted to pick a shook from beneath a pile and carry said shook to box assembling position, said feeder vbeing adapted to so feed shocks varying substantially in width; and means for supporting the front edge of a substantially wider shook carried by said feeder said last recited means being adapted to yield towards said feeder when encountering a substantial resistance.

3. In an automatic box making machine the combination of: means for positioning a pair of heads for receiving in the order named an initial side, a bottom and a nal side, said sides and bottom being vformed of slats; a magazine adapted to hold relatively narrow slats for forming said sides and relatively wide slats for forming said bottoms; means for nailing said slats to said box heads when said slats are in proper position relative to said heads; a reciprocating shook feeder shiftable beneath said magazine` to pick said slats from said magazine and carry said slats into position to be nailed to said box heads by said nailing means; and. means carried on said feeder for supporting the forward edgey of a bottom slat carried on said feeder, said means yielding towards said feeder upon engaging the bottom of said box when said feeder moves into position for positioning the side slats for the final side of said box.

4. In. an automatic box making machine, the combination of: a reciprocating shook feeder adapted to pick a shook from beneath a pile arid carry it to box assembling position, said feeder having a plurality of sets of slat engaging dogs; means for selectively presenting said sets of dogs in slat engaging positions; and slat support means mounted on said feeder, said means being adapted to support the front edge of a Wide slat and to yield towards said feeder when encountering a substantial resistance.

5. In an automatic box making machine the combination of a reciprocating shook feeder adapted to pick a shook from beneath a pile and carry it to box assembling position; means on said feeder for engaging and stripping pieces of shook from beneath said pile; a telescopic shook support slidably mounted on said shook feeder and disposed beyond the forward end thereof when in extended position; and spring means for yieldably urging said telescopic support into extended position.

6. A combination as in claim 2 in which the shook support means last recite-d therein is slidably mounted on said shook feeder; and spring means for yieldably urging said shook support means into extended position.

7. In an automatic box making machine the combination of: a pair of reciprocating shook feeding arms adapted to pick slats from beneath a pile of the same and carry said slats to box assembling positions; and means on said arms for supporting the front edge of a slat carried by said arms, said support means being adapted to yield in the direction of said arms when encountering a substantial resistance.

8. In an automatic box making machine the combination of: a reciprocating shook feeder 'adapted to pick a slat from beneath a pile and carry it to box assembling position, said feeder including an arm provided with three substantially radial ribs, shook engaging hooks on said ribs; and a telescopic member on said feeder for supporting the front edge of a slat disposed forwardly of the front end of said feeder said member being adapted to yield towards said feeder upon encountering a substantial resistance.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which said telescopic member is slidably disposed upon one of said ribs on the opposite side of said rib from the side thereof on which said hooks are mounted.

10. A combination as in claim 1 in which said telescopic support is formed of sheet metal and has a head benttherefrom at its forward end.

GERALD C. PAXTON'.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,119,051 May 51, 1958.,

f GERALD C. PAXTON. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed spe cifioation ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line h., for the patentv number 1,88l\ ,555 read 1,8bli,555; and that the saidA Letters Patent should be reati with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of September, A7 D. 1958.,

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commis sioner of Patents. 

